An educator who served as principal of four primary schools over a forty-year period has been formally recognised by Dominica’s Ministry of Education.
He failed to pick up his award at a recent official ceremony due to ill health, and has now had it brought to him at his home.
Retired educator Athelstane Seraphin moved from being a teacher, to taking on the job of principal first at the Boetica Primary School in 1982, then moving on to the La Plaine Primary, then the Salibia Primary and ending his career as Principal of the San Sauveur Primary School.
Seraphin, who retired in 2011 has been ill for some time, and was unable to receive his award at the ministry’s retirees awards ceremony held recently.
Chief Education Officer Stephenson Hyacinth visited Seraphin on Friday at his home in San Sauveur, where they reminisced about his years as a teacher and principal at the schools he served in the east.
During the visit, Seraphin recounted his days as principal in Boetica, awaking at 3 a.m. to make the daily trek by foot from Good Hope to Boetica through the Petite Soufriere-Rosalie route.
Hyacinth, who also served as Education Officer-Eastern District while Seraphin was stationed at Salybia, remembers him as a committed educator “who would go the extra mile for the benefit of his students.”
“He always worked hard towards the development of his staff and the schools where he served,” Hyacinth said.
The veteran educator said on being presented with his award, that he was honoured to have contributed to the education of young people in Dominica.
Well brother it is with great pride to see that you are being recognized for all your hard work and dedication. You still look good after all these years since we last saw one another. Hopefully this year will be the year for our reunion. Congrats again. Your brother, Cornwall Seraphin
Congrats Mr.Seraphin Thanks for your service. Mr Hyacinth, that was a very thoughtful gesture to deliver the award to Mr Seraphin at his home. That’s a beautiful story.
Congrats Abo. Your dedication and hard work was instilled in us and we are all proud of you. We will always remember you as our hero.
Lots of love BO.
Snewo
CONGRATULATIONS MR SERAPHINE!!!!!!
A well deserved award to a great educator. Congratulations Mr Seraphin! Great work, dedication and your general contribution to the teaching service/education did not go unnoticed! I am blessed to have worked with you.you taught me so much. Thanks for your continued encouragement and friendship.
Great to see you receiving your well deserved award, Stain. Wasn’t aware of your illness. Hope you are restored to sound health soon.
Also good to see heroes like you being recognised while you can enjoy while alive and not just after death. Good to see that it’s my old buddy Steve presenting award.
All the best.
Cheers!
Congratulations!!!! A well deserved award after all your hard work in the field of education.
You deserve this award Stane. Thank you for knowing you. I enjoyed you sense of humour. It is that which keeps you going after all your trials. Love you. A pleasure working with you at all levels.
Congratulations Mr. Seraphin,Stain. Hope you get well soon. Best wishes !
Congrats Stane, God’s guidance and blessings on your success. Enjoy your retirement.
Congrats Stane on your well deserved achievement…God’s guidance and blessings. Enjoy your retirement….
Well deserved and at the right time too. I suggest they named the Petite- Soufriere to Rosalie road after him. Please do not forget MRS GERTRUDE ROBERTS who served us well. LETS give those who deserve it while they are alive.
Wish the Good Lord restores your health,and allow you to enjoy your retirement!
Congratulations Stane. You have worked hard. I trust that you enjoy your retirement. I remember our days at college.
Stain you have done remarkably well in giving of yourself to Dominica in particular the East. You are one of our Heroes from the East! May God’s blessings and peace descend upon you and your family!
Fr. Esprit FMI
Congrats Mr. Seraphine……you were always on top of your game.
Priceless service!
Congratulations, Sir! I will always remember you for your hard work and dedication.
Shout out to Mr Seraphine. I met you first when you were ill after your wife died. You’re a very strong man. May God bless you, your children ESP Shane, grand children, and your sister Ingrid.
Your padna in Ny
Congratulations to you Mr Seraphin! Well derseved and the best of health to you! Enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Thank you Ministry of Education for making the trip to honour this distinguished gentleman
Congratulations Mr Stain.You will always be remembered for your great teachings.I pray God’s healing power be manifest in your life.God bless you sir.Forever friend
you have done well, stane. congratulations on this award and for all the good works you have done for your school and community. may God’s blessings be with you, hope you get well soon. Bravo!
Congratualations Mr Seraphine, though i’m not one of your past students but through my family and past job I got to know both you and your wife. Very pleasent people indeed who have done a great deal for your community. An award well deserved.
Congrats Dad on your accomplishment. Well deserved. You’ve certainly done your thing over the years. Very proud of you.
Athelstane Seraphin, Jr.
Ok jr, bigging up your dad, nice!
Congrats mr stain! You sure deserve this award, and thank u so much for the good advice u gave me.
Past student of the salibia primary school.
Congratulations bow,your work an help for me an many others will never go forgotten,a true principal.
Congratulations to yo Mr.Seraphin. May God continue to pour his blessings upon you and may he touch your body with his healing hands so that you may be healed from whatever illness you have. Your teachings have inspired alot of us and we will carry you close in our hearts and will also have great love for your deceased wife.
Congrats Ministry of Education. Job well done. Ministry of Educationall you need more press releases to let the nation know the work the CEO and his team is doing.
Congrats! Well Deserved…I know your late wife is smiling…
You are right Winnie she is smiling! God’s blessings
Fr. Vincent Esprit FMI
You will always be a great man. The good work you did will surely live on. Congratulations!!!!
very nice!…congrats!
Than you Stain for what you passed on to me. Believe me, words cannot express my gratitude and appreciation for the countless hours you spent taking me from a C- to an A and ultimately from primary to secondary school and beyond. You can be proud that were it not for your valiant efforts many of us would not be journalists, doctors, lawyers, policemen, teachers, pilots and yes politicians today. And yes, many of your successful past pupils can be found across the globe.
Enjoy your well deserved retirement and thanks for your selfless service. May the almighty God continue to bless and protect you!
They should have had the students come to show their appreciation also.Geat man you have many more awards to come.
Congratulations are in order for Mr Seraphine, Couldn’t have given the award to someone more deserving. Coming from a past student. Wish you all the best SIR.